Finland Times

 

File Photo – Lehtikuva.

The European Union Court of Justice on Thursday issued a preliminary ruling that the Finnish legislation on distant sales of alcohol does not conflict with the European Court and, therefore, distance sales of alcohol to Finland from other European Union countries can be completely banned.

 

The ruling was issued following a petition lodged in April 2014 by the Helsinki Court of Appeal on whether Finnish legislation on online sales of alcohol contradicts the European court.

 

According to the European court’s preliminary ruling, distance sales of alcohol refer to situations involving online orders where a foreign seller organises transportation for consumers in Finland.

 

Distant purchases, on the other hand, refer to situations where the consumer organises transportation.

 

Meanwhile, Finns have imported as much alcohol from Estonia this year as last year, found a survey on alcohol imports by travellers.

 

The volume of wine and beer imports has increased, while, on the other hand, cider, long drink and spirit imports have slightly dropped.

 

According to the survey, 62.6 million litres of alcohol was imported from the southern neighbour from September 2014 to August this year. The whole of last year saw 64.4 million litres of alcohol imported from Estonia.

 

Mikko Grönberg, enforcement director at the Finnish Customs, said the EU court’s preliminary ruling will not affect alcohol imports by passengers.

 

Only a small percentage of the traveller (five per cent) imported half of the alcohol imports.

 

The survey which was conducted by the research and analysis centre TAK gathered information by interviewing Finnish passengers travelling on cruise ships between Finland and Estonia.

 

A total of 3,345 passengers were interviewed.